Today, the Darwin tulips are officially included in the Ssingle Late tulip category – Division 5. However, as is the historical practice of Hortus Bulborum, the Darwins are included on this website as its own category.

These old Darwin tulips are not to be confused with the newer Darwin Hybrid tulips, which today comprise Division 4.

According to Report of the Tulip Nomenclature Committee, 1914-1915 - Intro to Classification: "Somewhere, it is believed in Flanders, another race was segregated from the original Dutch stock and was introduced into commerce in 1899 by KRELAGE under the name of 'Darwin Tulips.' They possess a stronger constitution than the original stock, grow taller, and have larger flowers of great substance. The shape is also characteristic; the flower segments spring at right angles from the stem and turn again at right angles to form the cup, so that the whole flower possesses a distinctive, squarely built profile (figs. 19, 21). Among the Darwins the yellow ground has been eliminated, so that only shades of rose and purple are recognized. The base may be any shade of blue down to pure white."

The descriptions that appear below are from this report. The descriptions frequently indicate that a flower is of a specific "type". This type refers to shape and/or patterns of coloration. The type varies based on the color of the tulip, which is the primary element employed by the "Committee" to classify Darwin Tulips. The classification structure is quite complex. For details, please see: 7. DARWIN TULIPS.

The following figures also are from the "Report" and are cited frequently to indicate a type of shape and/or coloration pattern.

The designation "(HB)" following a tulip name indicates this cultivar is in the collection of Hortus Bublorum, which preserves and is the current authority on these tulips.

City of Haarlem, <1908 (HB) "Flower vermilion-scarlet. Type 1: colour brilliant. Clear blue to blue- black base ringed with white and associated with a white, six-rayed star on the outside of the flower, which varies in size with the size of the base. The filaments are blue to blue-black. Large, not so bright as 'Isis,' of fine form and substance; 31 inches; May 8, 19 days." -- Report, 1914-15 / Darwin Tulips.

Margaret. See: Grechen. Note: Hortus Bulborum places this tulip under the name Gretchen although "Report, 1914-15" places it under Margaret. Gretchen is the Broken form of Margaret. See also Gretchen under Broken tulips.

The Bishop, 1908 (HB) "Flower violet-purple. Type 2: base more or less circular, blue, except that each blotch has a streak of white along the margins of each segment. (Fig. 14.) Filaments more or less blue. Form and substance good; base small, dull; 29 inches; May 6, 18 days." -- Report, 1914-15 / Darwin Tulips.